Shelly Mitchell-Jenkins is the Chair of Eastern & Central Community Trust.Shelly grew up in Whanganui, and has lived in Wellington and Japan. She now shares her time between Napier and Levin, as the owner of Levin-based Chartered Accountancy practice Colbert Cooper.She studied at Massey University, and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.

 

Shelly has served on the ECCT Board for six years, and is also a director of Electra Limited (the Horowhenua-Kapiti lines company) and a Trustee of Horowhenua Scholarship Trust and Levin Charitable Trust.

 

“I love being involved with ECCT because it allows me to utilise the skills and knowledge developed over my working life, professionally, and from being involved in lots of community and not-for-profit organisations, in an organisation that has a goal to improve the lives of the people in our region.” .

Hilary Humphrey was elected to the Eastern & Central Community Trust Board in September 2020, representing the Manawatu region.

 

Hilary is also an elected member for Manawatu District Council, on the Governance and Strategy Advisory Board for Local Government New Zealand and a member of the MidCentral DHB Consumer Council.  She is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, a Massey Bachelor Scholar in Economics and is currently studying towards a Masters in Public Policy.

 

Hilary’s professional background includes economic cluster growth, strategy development, education management, community development and local government.

 

Hilary has lived in Manawatu for most of her life, apart from short stints living abroad in USA, China and the UK. These days, Hilary resides in Fielding with her husband Geoff and four children, aged between 6 and 16 years old.

Of Ngāti Kahungunu descent, Sarah was raised in Whakaki and continues to live in Wairoa with husband Max and eldest daughter Karen (Kaz).

A registered nurse for over 30 years, Sarah has spent the last 20 years working for local Māori health provider Kahungunu Executive Ki Te Wairoa Charitable Trust, with the last ten years spent in management.

 

Her present role as the General Manager gives her oversight of the health, mental health, social services and housing services for the Wairoa community.

 

“I am passionate about my whanau, all things that lead to health and wellness, Wairoa, its people, Kahungunu Executive and its staff.  As one of the newbies on the Trust, I am keen to be part of the Board and I look forward to progressing the Trust’s vision to help build stronger more sustainable communities, for the region, and Wairoa.”

Ko Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tūhoe me Ngāti Awa nga iwi

Ko Hikurangi, Taiarahia me Putauaki nga maunga

Ko Waiapu, Ohinemataroa me Rangitaiki nga awa

Ko Rongohaere, Te Rewarewa me Uiraroa nga marae

Ko Te Aitanga a Mate, Te Mahurehure me Ngai Tama Wera nga hapu

Ko Juanita Whitiaira Timutimu ahau.

 

Whiti was raised in the Eastern Bay of Plenty in Ruatoki and has been living and working in Tairāwhiti since 2003. She and her wife Kristin live in Manutuke with daughter Maia who is 15.

Whiti works in the New Zealand Police and has spent 14 years working with whanau, hapu and iwi across the country.

In her personal time she is a ‘Social Entrepreneur’ and spends the majority of her time investing in the potential of others by creating solutions for issues in communities.

She has three mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people (at risk school kids, LGBTQI youth, and children with a parent in prison).

Her passion is with creating long-term, sustainable solutions for whānau, hapū, iwi and communities.

“I feel privileged to be a part of the trust and look forward to the ‘transformation’ our funding will make for all communities.”

(Ngāti Rākaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)

Levi was born and bred in Hastings, and maintains his Mum’s whakapapa to Ngā Nuhaka in Wairoa. He has a degree in sociology and development studies from Victoria University of Wellington, and returned to the region in 2017 to focus on providing opportunities for others, establishing new projects, and finding innovative and sustainable ways to deliver positive, intergenerational impact within Hawke’s Bay.

 

A company director and mentor, Levi serves on several government-appointed boards providing a youth perspective, as well as actively engaging with young people to build networks of knowledge and support.

 

“My drive for this mahi is to help create the best opportunities for our young people, growing and supporting the next generation of movers and shakers to build on the progress made up to this point. Alongside this, I work to address the asking and bringing of our rangatahi into these spaces, without the appropriate environment. This means ensuring the systems, supports, culture and processes are all conducive to allowing them to thrive within that space, and to what is being asked of them.” 

David Lea has lived and worked in the small rural community of Pahiatua for over 65 years, and spent 33 of those years serving in local government, with 12 years as the Deputy Mayor of the Tararua District. He spent most of his working life in the real estate and insurance industries, and is now retired. Having spent most of his life advocating for his community, in 2010 he was awarded a QSM for service to the community. David’s passion is the theatre, and he is a life member of the Pahiatua Repertory Society, and Patron of the Pahiatua Cinema Society.

David is happily married to Bronny, and they have two married daughters and five wonderful grandchildren.

“I believe all our voluntary organisations, big and small, are the life blood of our communities, and my involvement with ECCT gives me the opportunity to ensure the help they need to reach their goals and aspirations is readily available.”

Georgina Morrison comes from rural Tararua, and resides on her husband’s family dairy farm near Pahiatua, with their two young children.

 

Georgina studied at Massey University, and is currently the Executive Officer for Environment Hubs Aotearoa, and a facilitator for Enviroschools in Tararua and Palmerston North. She holds governance roles at Pukaha Mt Bruce and Pahiatua Primary School.

 

“I enjoy being part of an organisation that truly seeks to support and empower communities from the grassroots up.”

Tom, an Education Consultant from Wairarapa, was appointed to the Eastern & Central Community Trust in September 2020.

Tom brings an extensive teaching and learning background to the Eastern & Central Community Trust Board, spanning more than 30 years in secondary, tertiary, and community education.

From 2005 to 2008 Tom worked at the Victoria University School of Education as a school advisor, lecturer and Head of Faculty.

Following this he was appointed Principal of Makoura College in 2014, during which time he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Excellence Award for Leadership.

In 2016 Tom was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

Following principalship, Tom worked for the Ministry of Education as a School and Principal Advisor with a special focus on secondary transitions and Māori achievement. He subsequently moved in to the local government sector, where he worked in community development and education. This included developing and implementing a community education plan and a range of community development initiatives.

Tom has also served in the NZ Army, worked in forestry, transport, and the meat industry.

In addition to being an Education Consultant Tom currently leads a Provincial Growth Fund initiative targeting effective youth transitions in the Wairarapa. He is also an elected trustee on the Masterton Trust Lands Trust.

Gail was appointed to the Eastern and Central Community Trust Board in September 2020.

Gail has a background in both community development, social services and governance.

A commitment and interest in social justice and equitable outcomes for communities has led her to work voluntarily with former refugee communities, assisting them to become incorporated societies and governors, so they have legal entities as vehicles to achieve their aspirations.

Gail was a board member and subsequently Chair of the Workbridge Board for eight years before recently being appointed Chair of the MidCentral District Health Board Consumer Council.

Gail, who has a partner and two adult sons, says she is keen to support the efforts of communities to fulfill their own dreams and projects through the equitable allocation of resources.

Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
Ko Te Whānau a Tarahauiti, Te Whānau a Hunaara, me Te Whānau a Rerewa ōku hapū
Ko Mātahi o Te Tau me Hinepare ōku marae

Ko Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, me Ngāi Tahu hoki ōku iwi.

Rena was appointed to the Eastern & Central Community Trust Board in September 2020.

Rena grew up on the East Coast – on whānau land at the East Cape Lighthouse, Te Araroa.

After almost 20 years in Wellington, Rena and her husband, Stefan, brought their four children back to Gisborne in 2017.

Rena is currently the Manager of the Tairāwhiti Environment Centre, which is a community organisation focused on environmental education, waste minimisation, and biodiversity.  Her professional background includes the sustainable business, environmental not-for-profits and Māori heritage sectors.

Underpinning Rena’s personal and professional life are her core values of whanaungatanga, accountability, inclusion and aroha, which guide and inform her commitment to whānau, hapū, iwi, community and environment.

“I believe that communities understand best what works for them and that community-led solutions have the best chance of creating real value and change.

“I am proud to be part of ECCT as it is an organisation that places community connection and collaboration at the heart of its work.”